Hiring a qualified candidate to fill a position is one thing, but knowing when is the right time to hire a new employee is another. On one hand, employees who feel overwhelmed or overworked will generally be anything but productive. Once fatigue sets in, efficiency levels can drop dramatically the overall workforce capacity will quickly be the norm. Even worse, once a business gets a reputation for falling behind on orders, products and services, this can be hard to shake, especially in an era of internet reviews where just one critical error can set off a chain of negative reviews.
On the other hand, though, taking on too many employees at once can be expensive, and quickly eat away at the bottom line, especially in the case of startups or small businesses. So how exactly do business leaders know when the right time to hire without jumping the gun? These are some telltale signs to look out for.
1. Missed Opportunities
When it comes to the point that the whole team is already working around the clock just to keep up with existing orders, there is going to be no room to take on new clients. When a company is in a position where they have to start turning down potential prospects just to keep their heads above water, they are shooting themselves in the foot in two ways.
Firstly, they miss out on an opportunity to make money in the present. But more importantly, they are also passing over a chance to solidify lasting business relationships in the future. Chances are, a potential client who is rejected for lack of resources to meet demand is highly unlikely to check back in the future to see if a business can finally squeeze them in, and they aren’t highly likely to generate positive referrals either.
The takeaway here is that there is too much demand for the current workforce to keep up with, it’s probably time to take on new employees as soon as possible.
2. Morale is Low
Another more subtle warning sign that there are not enough employees on payroll to meet the demand is also one that a lot of employers fail to pick up on before it’s too late. Overworked employees are hardly likely to feel content or satisfied with their jobs, and it will slowly begin to show as a drop in overall workplace morale.
So what are some of the key signs of overworked or disgruntled employees? Many employees will start to look noticeably fatigued, especially during the later hours of their shifts. Another key indicator is if staff starts calling in sick more often than usual. This is also a slippery slope because when employees feel so desperate that they are using sick days just to rest up, this will backfire double on an already overstained business as a whole since the remaining understaffed and unworked workforce will be the only ones left to pick up the slack.
The thing is that when employees are feeling slammed, they will often be resistant to complain to somebody in a superior position for fear of looking like they can’t handle their jobs, and this is why so many employers fail to recognize the signs of dropping morale until it is too late. Rather than risk looking like a weak link, they will probably just move on to seek out greener pastures.
This is why if an employer recognizes any of the subtle signs that workplace morale is falling, it is a much better idea to take on new staff pronto as opposed to having to deal with the fall out of potentially losing a bunch of valuable team members at once.
3. Expansion Is on the Horizon
Any business owner who wants to lock down long term success will probably have to start thinking about expansion at one point or another. Once a business gets stuck in that comfort zone, it might seem difficult to give that little push that is needed to fuel growth, but it is usually more than worth it in the end.
However, anybody who is ready to grow their business should also be willing to take on the necessary amount of staff to accommodate growing demand. It may seem intuitive, but all too many small business owners make the rookie mistake of trying to leverage the cost of expansion increasing the workload of the existing workforce. This is a big mistake, not only for the reasons listed in the point above, but also because expansion is inherently risky, and it is important for business owners to do everything in their power to mitigate the chance of failure during times of transition.
So rather than risk losing valuable clients who have come to expect a certain level of service, anybody hoping to expand should also budget to take on new employees to meet the demand.
4. Customer Service is Slipping
Another key warning sign that is time to take on new employees is if the current workforce is unable to meet the demand in a way that leaves clients feeling happy and satisfied. After all, when it comes to running a business in a competitive marketplace, simply keeping up is not enough. The key to locking down long term success often lies in offering a customer service experience that stands out from the pack.
So if customers are walking away unhappy, complaints are rolling up or the business has generated some negative online reviews, rather than taking it out on the existing workforce, it may be time for employers to start thinking about taking on new or even post immigration ads to hire specialized staff that can comfortably meet the demand.
The Takeaway
The bottom line is that when employers know exactly when to take on new employees, they will be able to hit that sweet spot where they are able to keep everything running smoothly without having to worry about blowing their budget.
Whether looking to hire on a domestic level or seeking out hard to find skills via immigration labor advertising, it is always the smart policy to have a professional agency that specializes in immigration ads and other recruitment and job posting services on the team. Letting a professional handle the job will not only ensure that job postings are effective, but also help minimize the time and costs spent on the recruitment process.
Meanwhile, they can also help ensure that all the bases are hit, legally speaking, especially in terms of more complex processes like immigration advertising or recruitment for permanent labor certification purposes.
